Books to Borrow ... Books to Buy: Good reading for the fast-aproaching holidays

I’m stepping away from my commentary for the next several weeks to make room for an additional book review to provide you with more choices to find the right books for the child in your life. Happy Holidays!

Librarian’s Choice

Library: Tredyffrin Public Library, 582 Upper Gulph Road, Strafford

Library Director: Michael Packard

Children’s Librarian: Angela Newman

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Choices this week: “Toot and Puddle” by Holly Hobbie; “George and Martha” series by James Marshall; “Harris and Me” by Gary Paulsen

An old man lived on a small farm in the woods. It was December 24th, and a blizzard, had covered everything in white. Christmas Eve had always been a wonderful time for the man and his wife. Each year they would decorate their tree and place the star on the top – the symbol of hope.

This year was different, for the man’s wife had died months ago, and he no longer had hope. As he prepared his dinner, he heard a sound outside and went to investigate, finding a mare lying in the snow. He gently helped her to her feet and led her to his barn where he warmed her and gave her food and drink. Exhausted, he laid down on the hay and fell asleep. When he woke on Christmas morning, he found a very special gift, and for the first time in a long while, he found himself looking forward to the next day.

An outstanding book in both story and illustration, this selection resounds with compassion and joy.

Five hungry dinosaurs are busy gobbling-up this board book, and kids can count along as each dinosaur takes a small chunk out of each page. The number of bites per page corresponds with the counting number on each double-page spread. Also included are fun facts about each dinosaur (as well as a pronunciation guide for parents!), what the dinosaurs really liked to eat, and a listing of dinosaur details from 1 – 10.

Created with the American Museum of Natural History and illustrated by Caldecott-honor winner Steve Jenkins, this awesome learning book covers numbers, colors, fun facts, and chomping dinosaurs all rolled into one.

The town of Toby Mills was experiencing a terrible cold snap. There was an icicle that hung from the nose of the statue of General Toby–the town’s founder, and the townspeople tried everything they could to keep themselves warm. But as each day dawned, the icicle on General Toby’s nose grew longer and longer and the temperature went down and down and down until it reached the unthinkable–zero!

Just when everyone (including the animals) thought they couldn’t take much more of the cold snap, the mayor’s wife had an idea to boost everyone’s spirit. Flyers were delivered throughout town, but everyone thought the 7 p.m.“Winter Surprise” invitation on the top of T-Bone Hill was strange; who wanted to be outside? But the good citizens of Toby Mills went to T-Bone Hill anyway, and what a winter surprise it turned out to be!

Werner Franz was the 14-year-old cabin boy aboard the giant German airship Hindenburg on May 6, 1937. The ship had crossed the Atlantic and was scheduled to land at Lakehurst Naval Base in New Jersey, but as it was making its final approach, disaster struck as the Hindenburg burst into flames. Miraculously, Werner Franz survived.

Exceptionally well written and beautifully illustrated, this true story is at once fascinating, informative and riveting.

Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached at her website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com